Google recently announced a new update for the Chrome browser on Android, enhancing the browsing experience and providing important features for users, especially those with special needs. The new update allows users to listen to web pages while performing other tasks, through upgrading the “Listen to this page” feature to work in the background.
According to users, the latest version of Chrome browser (version 130) now supports running the “Listen to this page” feature in the background for Android users. This feature was quietly released in June as a hidden experiment, allowing reading web pages aloud, but requiring the app to stay open.
The latest update solves this issue, as users can now continue listening to web pages even when the screen is off or transitioning to other apps. The new feature displays a media player tool in the notification panel, with easy options for play, pause, as well as buttons for skipping forward or backward by 10-second intervals.
The player tool also shows the article title and website being listened to, and for adjusting playback speed or changing volume, users can access the player tool within the browser itself. Chrome browser can also highlight text while reading it aloud and automatically scroll through content, making it easier to follow along.
The “Listen to this page” feature is based on text-to-speech technology, and appears as a small tool at the bottom of the screen for quick access. It can be activated from the main menu in Chrome browser by selecting “Listen to this page,” and a shortcut can be added next to the address bar for easier use.
